X11 Linux graphics over PuTTY with Exceed

Windows user can use Computer Laboratory remote-login Linux servers
using the PuTTY SSH client. However, PuTTY
provides only the functionality of an
old-style VT100
character terminal, and one its own does not allow the use of Linux
applications with a graphical user interface from Windows. To allow
graphical Linux/Unix applications to open their windows on your
Windows PC, you need start-up the commercial X11 server “Exceed” in
addition to PuTTY.

Installation

Remove any existing installations, before proceeding.

If you are on a Lab managed machine, then both packages are
available via the Systems Management “Advertised Programs” installer.
The installer may manifest itself as a small white rectangle in your
task bar. Otherwise, you can get to it via: “Start Menu |
Settings | Control Panel | Advertised Programs”.
(Note, that you don't want the “Advertised Programs
Monitor”.)

The following are instructions on how to install “Exceed” (version
2007 at time of writing).

If you are installing from the “Advertised Programs” installer,
which is a locally configured version removing all unnecessary extras
then this performs a silent install.

If you are installing from CD, only install the minimal system
of an X-server and fonts:

Run the program from the “Advertised Programs” area.

Accept the Licence Agreement.

If not already entered, enter your username and select Anyone who uses this computer
in the Install this Product area (this may also be preselected for you).

Accept the default installation destination folder.

In the User Directory Location window, accept the default selection of Per User Directory.

For Setup Type, select custom installation and then remove all but exceed form the setup.

In the Additonal Install Option for the Product window, leave all tick boxes empty,
except under Updates; Tick Run Hummingbird Update after Installation.

In the Introducing Exceed onDemand4.5 section, accept the default No to
NOT launch this program after installation.

Click on Install and wait for it to complete installation. This can take a few minutes.

When installation is finished, a WebUpdate window will appear requesting a check for
updates to “Hummingbird Exceed” and “InstallShield.”
Select “Hummingbird Exceed” and click on Check for Update

(If this doesn't work, click on the Settings tab and make sure I connect
through a local area network (LAN) is selected and try again).

Click Yes when asked if you want to isntall the updated patch or version.

You may have to click Run to an “XP” or“ Vista” security warning window, if it appears, giving permission
to install the program.

You can try to update the InstallShield WebUpdate, but this never seems to locate
the correct webpage it needs.

Setting up Exceed

We recommend you create a shortcut of this on your desktop, so that it is easier to access.

Note: You definitely do not need “Exceed
(XDMCPBroadcast)”, which appears adjacent to “Exceed” itself. This is
the old scheme, whose inflexibility and insecurity we're trying to
avoid.)

If you are running on a machine where you want to hibernate then
make sure you turn off “Prevent display from being shut down” which is
under “Other Server Settings | Power Management” as this prevents a
machine hibernating when eXceed is running.

You should also have installed “PuTTY”,
which you will need to use to access a Linux machine.

Running Exceed with PuTTY

Run Exceed.

This will open a program group on your task bar that will run quietly in the background, and a small toolbar may appear on the screen.

You should not have to alter any configurations, but the toolbar is where you can do this if required.

Now run your configured version of PuTTY,
opening the session of your choice.

A UNIX shell window will open.

Your Unix window will now allow you to run Unix X11-enabled applications.